Family members say Morales, a native of Garden City, Kansas, and a student at Midwestern State University in Wichita Falls, was taken to Baylor University Medical Center after he was found unconscious and separated from his friends at last year's Electric Daisy Carnival in Dallas.

According to his family, Morales left his friends, overheated and in search of water. When his friends finally found him at the end of the night, he was unconscious. He was rushed to the hospital, initially checking in with a body temperature of 107 degrees. He never regained consciousness.

"We don't know what time he was passed out [at the festival]," says Yvonne Morales, Jesse's younger sister by 11 months. "We don't know how long he was laying there. My understanding from his friends, though, is that that's just how it is at these things--people get high and they just lay down and people just push them to the side. I don't know how you don't react to seeing someone on the floor like that, but I guess it happens. As if it's normal."

Photo courtesy of Jesse Morales' family

Jesse Morales (far left, in orange bandana) attended the 2010 Electric Daisy Carnival in Dallas. He was pronounced dead three days after the festival.

​According to both Morales' cousin and sister, the 2010 Electric Daisy Carnival in Dallas was the first time Jesse had ever attended such an event. Just a few months prior, after earning his Associate's degree from Garden City Community College, where he also played football, Morales had moved to Wichita Falls to pursue his Bachelor's degree. While there, his family noticed slight changes in his personality.

"We'd noticed a little bit of a change with him about three or four months before [the festival]," Hector says. "Just with some of the stuff that he was posting on Facebook. He was a straight-laced kid. He'd never been in trouble in his whole life, and I think that's important to make clear. He was a good kid."

His sister agrees.

"He was never into house music or raving," she says. "No drugs or anything. He would drink once in a while, of course, but he was in college. I still am to this day surprised and I ask myself why he would do something like that. The ecstasy he took, I guess it was lined with more than what should've been on the pill. That's why he passed away. It was an overdose."

Photo courtesy of Jesse Morales' family

Morales (far left, in orange bandana) was found unconscious on the festival grounds and rushed to the nearby Baylor University Medical Center.

​Family members reached out to police and paramedics to see what, if anything, could be done about Morales' death. They say police told the family there was nothing they could do. The family never contacted Electric Daisy Carnival promoters Insomniac Events.

"To the best of my own knowledge, Insomniac was never informed about this incident by the family of Jesse Morales or any authority in Dallas," confirms Erika Raney, spokesperson for Insomniac Events. "As such, we have no idea what is alleged to have occurred over a year ago. Until we know the facts, we have no reason to believe that it is related to the event."

The Morales family, however, is quite certain that Jesse's death and his attendance at the festival are indeed related -- even as they remain split on where to place the blame.

"I don't blame the festival itself," says Hector Morales. "He was 22 years old. He was able to make up his own mind as far as what he wanted to do. The thing that is disturbing is that there's all these young kids that are going to these raves and getting into situations that they're not prepared for with all this stuff around them. My feeling is that they're promoting a music festival, where, in
fact, the underlying thing that's going on is that all these kids know
that it's a place where they can get drugs and everything else."

Morales' sister is less sympathetic.

"You would think such a big event would be able to handle it better," she says. "Why would you just leave someone laying there? If it's so overcrowded, why have so many people? I mean, I know they want to make their money. I wish they would cancel it -- but how could they have known? They never knew about Jesse's story. And now that there's that 19-year-old and his family going through what we went through. I understand what they're going through. They have to live with it. And the dealers that sold them the drugs are scot-free. A year later, it still hurts. A year later, it's still unbearable. I just makes me really angry that everyone's having a good time at the festival and we have to deal with this. It's just hard."

"I just want the information out there," adds Hector. "If there's knowledge out there about what's going on at these 'festivals,' maybe a parent or somebody can step up and say, 'Hey, this isn't an appropriate place for you to be.' These things are happening."

Photo courtesy of Jesse Morales' family

Morales had attended the 2010 Electric Daisy Carnival in Dallas with a group of friends from Midwestern State University in Wichita Falls, where he had just started taking classes a few months earlier.

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Rave sponsors have a responsibility to provide a safe environment, not one that is overcrowded with no easy access to water when it is over 100 degrees in TX. The heat could be felt the moment you walked in to the building, as if you just stuck your face in an oven. I can easily see how a person could have become delirious, dehydrated and overheated, and health complications or death could occur. The crowd was so unbelievably packed that it took quite a long time just to make your way out, especially if you were near the front when realizing that you don't feel well. The reason that its so hard to believe, is because Jesse was a healthy, active person that enjoyed sports and was strong as an ox. To the people who are trying to discredit the family or to make unnecessary points in this comment section, SHAME ON YOU. I have never understood why people are such trolls in comment sections of trivial articles. But this? A young man lost his life. Show some god damn respect and STFU.

I agree with the comments here - So very sorry for your loss, but it's hard for you to argue that "raving is wrong" (whatever that means) when everyone basically admitted in the article that Jesse was getting into things none of you were familiar with, and like as if EDC and other electronic music festivals are the only place drugs are. People do drugs everywhere. People like the music played at these festivals. Some people are taking drugs, some aren't. It's a tragedy, a terrible accident what happened to Jesse, but ecstasy overdose deaths are still pretty rare and as a 22 year old adult, he made the decision to take drugs and unfortunately on this particular occasion, it had horrible results.

I attend electric festivals yearly, I see people overdose every time I go. It's truly sad, these individuals have no self control in consumption of illicit substances. Any wise adult can tell you every thing in moderation is possible. I couldn't agree more. Over 7 years of festivals attended annually and I never felt bad once, however I always test my products with testing kits before consuming because I don't put unknowns into my body. Mr.Morales did not have good friends, and in my beliefs and what I witnessed throughout the years, Morales probably did not have self control or the proper respect that needs to be given when experimenting with illicit substances. Maybe if he had a few drinks and smoked a nice joint instead of popping untested and unidentified pills, Morales would be here with us today. Nothing wrong with taking a pill and keeping hydrated to enjoy a festival, but when you treat the damn things like skittles and try to act like a Superman by popping more, its only a matter of time before the body shuts down. I have way more fun these days munching on a handful of magic mushrooms at one of these festivals, no dehydration, no body temperature increases, no holes in the brain, magic mushrooms > pills any day. My condolences to the Morales family, sadly Mr. Morales is the culprit in ultimate responsibility, followed closely by the friends who chose to abandon him. I'd never leave a drugged friend who feels bad alone. Then again, my friends all understand their limits and are as moderate as I am. No need to get inebriated when just a dab will do you in. No need to blame the festivals, they are cleverly designed legitimate businesses. They are way safer than any hip pop club or event with all the concealed armed gangsters and gangs attending them. Raves are peace gatherings, and rarely do the bad apples go there. By the way, I just found out about Morales, only reason why I decided to post.

Jesse Morales was our sons, brothers, cousins, friends - he was the epitomy of a good decent young college student who had a promising future and cared about people. Yes, he made a bad choice that young people can get caught up in at an event that packs humans like concentration camp victims in extremely tight spaces, all the while music is being piped in. I am a mom of one of his friends. I was completely horrified when this tragedy occured. I, too, was like most citizens, completely unaware of the dangers of such an event. I will not stand idly by and read these horrible, inhuman comments about a wonderful young man who had a lot to offer the world. Those that have written indifferent comments and derogatory comments must surely have a hard time looking yourself in the mirror every day. WHERE is your compassion? WHERE is humanity that separates us from animals? The event SHOULD be held accountable for insufficient patrol of an area that has thousands of young people paying top money for such an event. The event lends itself to people getting physically separated from each other by undulating waves from the sea of people. And how can you keep an event safely cooled due to the body heat emitted from the THOUSANDS of bodies crammed in a tight space? I DO think we will see events such as these held accountable as the death toll rises whether the deaths are directly or indirectly related to heat. Where is CNN, Nancy Grace, Oprah- we need your help! America needs education on this topic. I think of this wonderful, compassionate young man often, Jesse Morales, that did leave compassionate footprints on this earth. I implore those of you who obviously have never experienced the joy and miracle of holding your newborn child in your arms to refrain from negative comments until you have had a chance to experience life's most precious gift. And then, when you have raised that precious baby to adulthood, then you have the ability to voice your opinion on the value of one's life.

Sucks when this kind of thing happens. I went to real RAVES back in the 90's and from what I can tell you about this kind of corporate fake rave event, is that INSOMNIAC is 50% to blame. They know what people are doing, they know it's going to be 100+ degrees, and they know how to make it safer. FREE WATER is not too much to ask for to keep people alive and safe. Screw insomnic for $4.00 bottles of water and screw them for making quick buck over safety. PEOPLE OVER PROFIT!! What about P.L.U.R? DUMB FAKE RAVVERS! Back in the day it was about love and respect and the other people there should have been stopping to help that guy. Dumb fake ravers...

Anyway all assos disrespecting f-you! We only making it clear that my cousin could have been saved if someone helped him when he was lying on the floor. Not just walk past him. I heard there are all types of drunks laying on the floor and you guys just pick them up and move them to the side of the st. How dare you come on this page posting up some shit like that. Jesse made his own decision and a bad one that we suffer with everyday! We just want people to be aware and be careful... 15 min of fame!? You serious asso!? I'm so damn sure. Fame for what!!!!? My cousins death!? Your an idiot! Theres no fame in that! We just wanted to spread the word cause we care and want people to be aware of what happen and what could happen. So you selfish idiots that have nothing to do with your time besides post some disrespectful shiit like that. Go fuck yourself assos!

So, here is the thing. You could put me in the safest environment imaginable....It could be padded walls, surrounded by doctors, breathing in pure oxygen while dining on the finest meats and cheeses......but if I WANT to act retarded, I will find a way to die, and there is nothing anyone can do about it.

ALL I HAVE TO SAY, IS THAT I'VE BEEN TO THE WHOLE "RAVE" SCENE AND WHAT NOT. IT WAS AN EXPERIENCE, AND TO BE COMPLETELY HONEST I HAD FUN EACH AND EVERY TIME! NO ONE FORCED ANY DRUGS ON ME! I CHOSE TO TAKE THEM AND THANKFULLY I AM STILL HERE! THERE IS A RISK IN EVERYTHING IN LIFE. I AM OLD ENOUGH TO MAKE MY OWN DECISIONS AND THAT IS WHAT I DID! I DID NOT CHOOSE TO TAKE DRUGS EACH AND EVERY TIME THAT I WENT, BUT I DID! AND THE POINT I WANT TO GET ACROSS IS THAT DECISIONS ARE MADE EACH AND EVERYDAY THAT INCLUDE RISKS. PUTTING BLAME ON THE CARNIVAL OR PROMOTERS AND WHAT NOT IS FAR FROM THE RIGHT THING TO DO. THIS SHOULD JUST BE A LIVE AND LEARN EXPERIENCE THAT I PERSONALLY USE IN MY LIFE. I HAVE DEEP SYMPATHY FOR THE LOSSES THESE FAMILIES AND FRIENDS WENT THROUGH. BUT I AM NOT GOING TO POINT THE FINGER AT ANYTHING THAT HAS TO DO WITH ELECTRONIC MUSIC SCENE..

People who attend these events make their own choices,not the venues,true.EDC can't be blamed for unresponsible choices.But let's be fair tho very stereotypical we all know that a lot people at these EDM events are on psychoactive drugs...at least more than other musical event.People don't have to do drugs to feel the music but it is a big part of it.What makes me upset is where is the P.L.U.R in all this?Why was Jesse alone,laying in an open area?where were his friends,or at least a stranger to help him out?!...Responsability not just for you but a fellow raver.At least give the families some closure by acknowleging the dangers of rolling and hopefully EDC Vegas won't have such outcomes.

This event is not about drugs also the venue is for 18 and up only. All concerts are going to have some sort of drug, its not the venue selling them its the patrons who bring it there. That is the true story. He made a bad decision.

I can't believe some of you are trying to stop these events, saying they cause deaths. People die from doing drugs. It's sad but true. Drugs can be found anywhere, not just these raves. At any type of concert. Also, shame on his friends for letting him wander off in that state. We need to watch each other so these things stop bringing heat on our shows.

it doesnt matte if they had water or not we r talkn about young people dying over this raving shit it has to stop how many more lives have to get taking away for people to know that raving is wrong... plus my brother had every right to live just like everyone else does on this world,, and hopefully for those of u talkn shit on here it dont happen to u or a family member cuz i guarantee u,, u would be doin the samthing trying to let word come out to help close EDC down for other young peoples lives and sake.. haterz go to hell!!!! we do wat we gotta do!! love u jesse sincerly <3 mela<3

Everything was accessible in both 2010 and 2011. I never once waited for water, restroom and noticed security everywhere. It is very very sad, but yes young adults will make poor choices. If they don’t have this safe place that provides all of these amenities they will go somewhere else. That somewhere else will be far away from, water, security, hospitals and other of these amenities that are provided. My heart goes out to the families. There will be a lot more of these broken families if the youth find hidden and more dangerous places to hold these events. I just hope that event holders can get better and promote better decisions. One thing that could improve is having very visible and accessible first aid stations. I have been to events like these in other countries and they have cool down stations and several first aid stations that are very accessible. Safety should always be first. My prayers are with those family members. Very sorry for your loss.

Everything was accessible in both 2010 and 2011. I never once waited for water, restroom and noticed security everywhere. It is very very sad, but yes young adults will make poor choices. If they don’t have this safe place that provides all of these amenities they will go somewhere else. That somewhere else will be far away from, water, security, hospitals and other of these amenities that are provided. My heart goes out to the families. There will be a lot more of these broken families if the youth find hidden and more dangerous places to hold these events. I just hope that event holders can get better and promote better decisions. One thing that could improve is having very visible and accessible first aid stations. I have been to events like these in other countries and they have cool down stations and several first aid stations that are very accessible. Safety should always be first. My prayers are with those family members. Very sorry for your lose.

Everything was accessible in both 2010 and 2011. I never once waited for water, restroom and noticed security everywhere. It is very very sad, but yes young adults will make poor choices. If they don’t have this safe place that provides all of these amenities they will go somewhere else. That somewhere else will be far away from, water, security, hospitals and other of these amenities that are provided. My heart goes out to the families. There will be a lot more of these broken families if the youth find hidden and more dangerous places to hold these events. I just hope that event holders can get better and promote better decisions. One thing that could improve is having very visible and accessible first aid stations. I have been to events like these in other countries and they have cool down stations and several first aid stations that are very accessible. Safety should always be first. My prayers are with those family members. Very sorry for your lose.

Everyone is trying to get their 15 minutes of fame after the death at this years EDC. The promoters, music, and festival are not to blame. Interesting how there have been 10 deaths since 2002 at Bonnaroo but has anyone heard anything about them, no.

"The thing that is disturbing is that there's all these young kids that are going to these raves and getting into situations that they're not prepared for with all this stuff around them." That is true but it only speaks to about 0.9% of the people who actually attend. In my opinion, I don't understand how you cannot feel yourself dying. Drink water people and be responsible. I doubt the ecstasy he took was laced, he probably just took too much. Where's your head at?

Its all about personal choice. I go to raves and I was there. I don't do x, or anything else for that matter. Stfu, and stop trying to blame the festival for your childs bad decisions. Yes its sad and I can understand that. But seriously, I saw more drugs in the hallway of my high-school than I did Saturday night. It's everywhere, hope your kid makes good choices, and live with it.